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BI2131: Animal Diversity and Adaptation > Birds > Flashcards

Birds Flashcards

1
Q

What are some general characteristics of birds?

A 
4 chambered heart.
Toothless beak.
Hollow-boned.
Egg laying.
Flight capable.
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2
Q

From what group of dinosaurs are birds meant to be descended from?

A

Dromaeosaurs.

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3
Q

What bird-like features were possessed by dromaeosaurs like Compsognathus?

A

Long spindly legs + long neck.
Small head + large eyes.
Pubic bone rotation + fused clavicles.
Outwards arm rotation.

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4
Q

What dinosaur features remained in dromaeosaurs like Compsognathus?

A

Clawed hands.
Teeth.
Long bulky tail.

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5
Q

What were some species within the “proto-bird” assemblage?

A

Sinornithosaurus.
Caudipteryx.
Protarchaeopteryx.

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6
Q

What bird-like features were possessed by Archaeopteryx?

A 
Long spindly legs + long neck.
Small head + large eyes.
Pubic bone rotated backwards + fused clavicles.
Bird like feet.
"Modern" flight + contour feathers.
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7
Q

What dinosaur features were possessed by Archaeopteryx?

A 
3 clawed hands.
Long (but thin) bony tail.
Teeth.
Small sternum.
Solid bones.
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8
Q

What bird-like features were possessed by Confuciusornis and Enantiornithes?

A

Hollow bones and a pygostyle (a bone used to control the tail feathers).

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9
Q

What vestigial dinosaur-like feature is possessed by hoatzin chicks?

A

2 vestigial wing claws.

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10
Q

What is the clade Euornithes?

A

The “early true birds”. Includes Patagopteryx, Ichthyornis and Hesperornis.

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11
Q

How many modern bird lineages are there and what are their names?

A

Palaeognathae, Neoaves and Galloanserae.

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12
Q

What orders are included in the group Palaeognathae?

A

Tinamous, Rheas, Ostriches, Kiwis, Cassowaries and Emus.

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13
Q

What are some features of the group Palaeognathae?

A

Large (excluding tinamous) and flightless (excluding tinamous).

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14
Q

How many orders are there in the lineage Neoaves?

A

35 orders (83 families).

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15
Q

Which is the most speciose order within Neoaves?

A

The Passerines with over 5000 named species. There are 3 suborders: Acanthisitti, Tyranni and Passeri.

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16
Q

How many orders are there in the lineage Galloanserae?

A

2 orders (8 families).

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17
Q

What are the names of the orders in the lineage Galloanserae?

A

Anseriformes and Galliformes.

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18
Q

How many orders are there in the lineage Palaeognathae?

A

6 orders (6 families).

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19
Q

What birds are found in the order Anseriformes?

A

Most water birds such as ducks, geese and swans.

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20
Q

What birds are found in the order Galliformes?

A

Grouse, pheasants, New World quails and guinea fowls.

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21
Q

How many species of bird are there globally?

A

9-10,000 making them the most speciose tetrapod group.

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22
Q

How many bird species have been lost during the Anthropocene extinctions?

A

Around 2000 species.

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23
Q

What are some feather types?

A 
Pennaceous/Vaned.
Filoplume.
Bristle.
Flight.
Semiplume.
Down.
24
Q

Describe the structure of a feather.

A

A vane made up of barbs which is attached to the shaft. The barbs possess barbules with hooks (barbicels)

25
Q

What are the upper and lower half of the shaft known as?

A

Upper half = rachis.

Lower half = calamus.

26
Q

What is the preen gland and where is it located?

A

A gland that secretes preen oil found at the base of the tail.

27
Q

Which species possess a preen gland?

A

Waterbirds.

28
Q

What is powder down?

A

A powdery substance produced by some birds that cleans and waterproofs the feathers. It can also prevent parasites.

29
Q

What is the process of anting?

A

The bird sits on an ant nest so the ants climb onto it. The ants then remove any external parasites.

30
Q

Why is moulting necessary?

A

To replace damaged or worn feathers.

31
Q

Which colours are reflected by caratenoid pigments?

A

Yellow and red.

32
Q

Which colours are reflected by pterin pigments?

A

White, yellow and red.

33
Q

Which colours are reflected by quinone pigments?

A

Yellow, red and orange.

34
Q

Which colours are reflected by verdin pigments?

A

Blue and green.

35
Q

What colours are reflected by porphyrins?

A

Depends on the metal ion: iron = red, magnesium = green and copper = red/violet/green.

36
Q

What colours are reflected by melanin?

A

Dark brown and black.

37
Q

What can pigmentation be used to indicate?

A

Foraging proficiency, age, rank or testosterone levels.

38
Q

What are the 2 forms of structural colours?

A

Scattering and multilayer interference.

39
Q

What strategies do birds use for body temperature regulation?

A

Complete homiothermy.
Strategic hypothermia.
Torpor.
Hibernation.

40
Q

What distinguishes primary feathers?

A

Outermost feathers.
Larger in size.
Propel bird through air.
Attached to “hand” bones.

41
Q

What distinguishes secondary feathers?

A

Innermost feathers.
Smaller in size.
Provide lift.
Run along the “forearm” bones.

42
Q

What are the benefits of flight?

A 
Escape opportunities.
Catching prey.
Access to nest sites.
Larger home range.
Display flights.
43
Q

What is the trees-down model for flight evolution?

A

Similar to “flying” squirrels/lizards etc. Foot morphology goes against this theory - not capable of climbing.

44
Q

What is the wing-assisted pouncing model for flight evolution?

A

Swooping down to catch prey from a vantage point. Supported by Archaeopteryx evidence - poorly adapted for flapping but advanced feathers.

45
Q

What is the ground-up model for flight evolution?

A

Similar to swan take-off. Unlikely early birds could run fast enough (12kph+).

46
Q

What is the wing-assisted incline-running model for flight evolution?

A

Upstrokes give feet increased grip but Archaeopteryx had a very weak upstroke.

47
Q

What is the wing-assisted water-walking model for flight evolution?

A

Similar to basilisk lizards crossing water.

48
Q

How do wings work?

A

Air has to travel further over the upper wing surface so has to move at a faster velocity. This results in lower pressure creating lift.

49
Q

How are the wings utilised by birds?

A

During flapping the downstroke increases pressure on the lower wing surface increasing lift.

50
Q

Why do modern birds typically possess toothless, non-keratinised bills?

A

Loss of teeth and keratinisation makes the head lighter which contributes to more efficient flight.

51
Q

In what group have tooth-like structures re-evolved? Why has this occurred?

A

Saw-bills, a group of ducks including goosanders. Keratin ridges have replaced enamilised teeth and are used to handle slippery fish.

52
Q

Define character displacement.

A

Anatomical changes in response to the selective environment that the organism faces at the time.

53
Q

How does the syrinx produce sound?

A

By vibrating one or both walls of the internal airway structure.

54
Q

What are the walls of the internal airways known as? What is their function during singing?

A

The 2 medial tympaniform membranes. They can vibrate at different frequencies to give 2 “voices”.

55
Q

What is the function of a bill casque?

A

To act as a resonating chamber to modify their calls.

BI2131: Animal Diversity and Adaptation (19 decks)

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